On April 18, nearly 200 passenger rail advocates, transportation experts, public officials, and Ohioans who care about choice and access in public transportation joined us at the inaugural Ohio Rail Summit in Columbus, Ohio. Read about the inspiring day and get a glimpse into what’s next.

If you didn’t get a chance to attend the Ohio Rail Summit, those were the closing remarks Board Chair Mitch Radakovich left us with. The room was buzzing after a full day of energetic speakers who discussed progress, plans, and success stories.

I was fortunate enough to have a front-row seat to all the excitement throughout the Summit. While stationed at the merchandise table, I could see the smiling faces entering the doors of the Energy Advancement & Innovation Center. I watched pockets of small talk emerge in anticipation of the day and witnessed friends (even All Aboard Ohio colleagues) meet in person for the first time. With cups of coffee in hand, attendees visited tabling sponsors and asked thoughtful questions.

The crowd was lively; you could almost feel them counting down the minutes until the opening remarks from AAO leadership. And between sessions throughout the day, I got to hear firsthand just some of the reasons Ohioans are eager for more passenger rail access:

• One attendee shared that they traveled all the way from Queens, NYC, to learn about the progress. They were optimistic about traveling by train between Ohio and New York with ease someday.

• I watched friends chat about all the potential fun the 3C+D route could offer—from easier access to sporting events to visiting family across the state.

• Another individual told me they attended the Summit to become a better advocate for passenger rail in their daily conversations. They wanted to understand what’s in the works and what’s possible when we all work together to expand passenger rail.

  
  

Ohio rail is moving from concept to reality, and Ohioans are already deciding how they’ll make the most of it.

Now what?

As the dust settles from the success of the Ohio Rail Summit, there’s still work to do. Don’t worry! At All Aboard Ohio, we’ve made it easy to get involved and keep the conversation going.

How to get involved:

• Become a paid member to help fund our mission. You can also purchase merchandise to support us.

• Attend AAO statewide meetings to hear from transportation experts, public officials, and guest speakers throughout the year.

• Get involved in your local chapter—or start one in your area.

• Follow AAO on social media and share our content with your network.

• Visit our Advocacy page to learn how to contact your representatives.

• Support your local public transportation services. Increasing bus ridership helps demonstrate real demand for passenger rail.

Now, go forth and… you know what to do!